The Strix brand, ASUS’ new performance-to-premium gaming brand, was launched in May of 2014. Modeled around the mythological Roman owl. In it’s line up is the Strix Claw (a 5000 DPI optical mouse), the Strix DSP (7.1 ch. USB headset), the Strix glide control/speed mouse pads, and the Strix Tactic Pro gaming mechanical keyboard. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the Strix Tactic Pro keyboard to see if meets expectations and lives up to the ASUS name.

Mini PC’s are a crucial part for a media center PC and even small compact gaming PC’s. With the Raijintek Metis Classic computer case, system builders can now build even smaller and more compact media center or gaming PC’s. This lightweight aluminum case supports mini-ITX motherboards and even a full size ATX power supply. The Metis comes in a variety of colors to choose from. These colors include red, black, silver, blue, green and gold. Benchmark Reviews has been given this gold sample for this review. With the right hardware components, the Metis can be turned into the perfect computer for the living room and even a high-performance gaming machine in a small form factor.

After Cougar’s fully featured 700K mechanical keyboard & 700M aluminum gaming mouse were released in 2014, a streamlined mechanical 600K & ergonomic 600M followed close behind. It’s not surprising then, in early 2015, that Benchmark Reviews has the opportunity to take a closer look at Cougar’s newest gaming keyboard; the 500K.

As the size of information stored in the cloud grows increasingly larger, IT managers must plan on getting data out of the cloud when it’s critically needed during disaster recovery. For some businesses, the cloud is a place to deposit a second copy of data already retained locally. For others the cloud is primary storage, where unique data is created and modified. Problems arise in both cases: when local data is lost due to fire, flood, or theft, when the data is too large for a timely transfer across limited Internet bandwidth, or when a cloud provider shuts down. This all begs the question: is redundant data in place?

EVGA continues their expansion into the peripherals market with the introduction of their TORQ peripherals line; today, we have the new EVGA Torq X5 Gaming Mouse to review. Benchmark Reviews has previously looked at the EVGA TORQ X10 Gaming Mouse and we liked it enough to give it our highest rating. The new X5 Gaming Mouse sacrifices a few features for a lower price point, but how does it perform? Let’s find out.

This case, the Sentey Optimus Plus, features a large side panel window instead of fan mounts. Additional features include a fan controller, filtered intakes, a dedicated cooling fan for hard drives, and a SD card reader. These features come at an additional premium though when compared to other cases in the same price range. In this Benchmark Reviews article, I will discuss the Optimus Plus in depth and whether or not this is a good mid budget case for your next build.

It is clear what NVIDIA’s message is to the enthusiast community, they are willing to be competitive. To further confirm this claims, the release price of the GeForce GTX 960 is just $199 for the basic models, a bit more for the feature packed ones like the Asus Strix sample that we will be reviewing today. In comparison to it’s predecessor, the GeForce GTX 960 comes in at around 20% cheaper than it’s predecessor, the GeForce GTX 760.

Like many other popular Micro-ATX cases, Raidmax has opted for a dual chamber design. However, note that this is not as wide as others like the Fractal Design Node 804, but still manages to fit plenty of fans, 3.5″ and 2.5″ drives, and they even added a 5.25″ bay. The case is not exactly eye candy, however many HTPC users will find that the overall design is not flashy, but rather elegant and simple. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the Raidmax Hyperion Micro-ATX computer case.

Here at Benchmark Reviews we have seen a lot of Cougar products come through as of late. Today we are proud to review something a little different, the Cougar 600K mechanical keyboard featuring Cherry MX Blue switches. There are quite a few things that make this keyboard unique and set it apart from it’s previous flagship keyboard, the Cougar 700K. The feature set alone from the 600K create a special synergy for typing purists that not only puts it in a class of its own, but definitely needs further examination.

The Core series by Thermaltake launched with the E-ATX full tower Core V71 last year. Since then, Thermaltake has expanded into the mid-tower (V31, V41, V51) and mini-ITX (V1) form factors. The Core V21 that Benchmark Reviews will take a look at today rounds out Thermaltake’s lineup with their first micro-ATX Core offering. At first glance, the Core V21 shares many design similarities with the other Core chassis. As is true with many things in life, looks can be deceiving as the V21 is the first Core chassis to officially offer a multitude of motherboard orientations. While it arrives in stock format with a horizontal motherboard layout, it can be transformed in a matter of seconds to a traditional or inverted layout. We’ll see how this works as we build a system inside the Core V21 over the next few pages.

The Kingston HyperX Cloud II Pro Gaming Headset is much like it’s predecessor in both features and aesthetics. The HyperX Cloud II features 7.1 channel virtual surround, which is accomplished with an advanced USB audio control box with built-in DSP sound card. The Cloud II still retains the ability to function with other devices that utilize a 3.5mm plug, including cell phones, tablets, and gaming console controllers. In this article, Benchmark Reviews will investigate how well Kingston delivers this revamp to it’s acclaimed HyperX Cloud headset.

Want to build a gaming system on a budget? Then you have to know where to spend your money to get the best bang for the buck. It’s always tempting to go for the flashy, high end motherboards with tons of extra features, but you may find that those extra features don’t buy you much in the way of extra performance. Micro Star International has sent Benchmark Reviews their MSI 970 Gaming motherboard, claiming they’ve gone beyond the specifications of the AMD 970 chipset. What kind of basis does this make for a gaming rig? Let’s find out.

Here at Benchmark Reviews we admire those companies who not only give relentless effort to create the best product designs in terms of efficiency, quality, and functionality, but we also applaud those who try to set themselves apart in what is an already crowded market by bringing forth new ideas and daring to take risks. Surprisingly, this seems to be a trend for Phanteks; the relatively young company that is looking forward to create it’s own market of dual system cases with the release of the Enthoo Mini XL “Super Micro-ATX” Computer Case.

AMD released a slew of new FX-series CPUs in September, 2014, including the FX-8370, FX-8370E, and the subject of our review, the FX-8320E. This is the low end of AMD’s eight-core FX series of enthusiast CPUs, and the “E” suffix marks it as a low-power variant; nonetheless, AMD touts it as a viable CPU for a gaming system. Benchmark Reviews will run this CPU through our gauntlet of tests to see how true this is.

It is my opinion that in-vehicle cameras have become a necessity for modern drivers. The streets are a dangerous place for motorists, with heavy traffic congestion and driver distractions adding risk to everything from long trips to short commutes. Defensive driving will help prevent some accidents, but every moment after getting into the vehicle is wrought with random chance and uncertainty. It’s never been a question of if you’ll someday be involved in an traffic accident or the victim or violent road rage, it’s a question of when. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the PAPAGO! GoSafe 272 Dashcam.

EA and Visceral Games Battlefield Hardline Premium Announced Own More and Be More with Four New Super Features, Early Access to Story-Themed Multiplayer Expansion Packs, and Exclusive In-Game Items and Events for Only $50 Visceral Games™, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) studio, today announced Battlefield™ HardlinePremium*, an exclusive membership program delivering new content and early …

1DataWorld and Macate Group Corporation Cyberphone Mobile Phone Unveiled A New Line of Mobile Devices Delivering Built In Identity Protection With Customized Encryption Software for Security Conscious Customers 1DataWorld, Inc., in association with Macate Group Corporation — a Silicon Valley technology company specializing in security services, biometric encryption, business communication management and hardware — announces …

BenQ RL2755HM Gaming Monitor Released Company Now Shipping Blazing-Fast Professional Gaming Monitor BenQ America Corp., an internationally renowned provider of visual display solutions and gaming monitor pioneer, today announced the availability of its ultra-fast, 27-inch RL2755HM professional gaming monitor. Selected as the official console gaming monitor of both Major League Gaming (MLG) and UMG, the …

Tesoro Excalibur Spectrum Mechanical Keyboard Announced Game in Your Own Spectrum of Colors Tesoro Technology USA Inc., announces the Excalibur Spectrum mechanical keyboard, featuring individual key-specific customizability in 16.8 million colors. Full Spectrum, Full Customization The Excalibur Spectrum allows gamers to individually customize virtually any color, to any key. With 8 different LED effects, such …

ZTE Star 2 Smartphone Launched at Mobile World Congress 2015 ZTE Star 2 upgraded to feature English-language GPS and speech-to-text input that supports British English ZTE, a leading global mobile device maker, today began to showcase a range of smart devices at Mobile World Congress 2015 that are soon to be launched in markets across …

Lenovo VIBE Shot Camera Smartphone Crossover Device Debuts Live Life Larger with New Lenovo Pocket Projector and A7000 Multimedia Smartphone; First Smartphone with Dolby Atmos Technology To help capture and share more of life’s moments on-the-go, Lenovo (SEHK:0992) (Pink Sheets:LNVGY) today at Mobile World Congress 2015 introduced three new exciting devices to the smartphone portfolio: …

Lenovo A7000 Smartphone Announced The Lenovo A7000 smartphone and TAB 2 A8 and A10-70 tablets to feature Dolby Atmos sound Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:DLB) and Lenovo (HKSE: 992) today announced the launch of three new mobile devices with Dolby Atmos® sound at Mobile World Congress® 2015: the Lenovo® A7000 smartphone and two tablets, the Lenovo …

ARCHOS Magnus Android Tablet Announced ARCHOS Fusion Storage and Magnus tablets showcased during Mobile World Congress at Hall 1, Stand 1G29 from March 2nd to 5th ARCHOS, a pioneer in Android devices, presents the ARCHOS Fusion Storage, a revolutionary software that seamlessly combines the memory of any micro SD card with the internal storage on …

Mad Catz S.U.R.F.R Wireless Media and Game Controller Debuts All-in-One GameSmart Controller Makes Surfing and Gaming a Breeze Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (“Mad Catz”) (NYSE MKT/TSX: MCZ) announced today the S.U.R.F.R™, a wireless media and game controller designed to integrate seamlessly into today’s connected living room, and portable enough take with you anywhere you want …

ADATA OTG microReader Launched A Smarter Way to Share ADATA® Technology, a leading manufacturer of high-performance DRAM modules and NAND Flash application products, today launches the OTG microReader, which combines microUSB and standard USB connectors to share files among different devices such as mobile phones, tablets and PCs, making it an extremely convenient tool for …

Brikk Lux Watch Smartwatch Launched The Lux Watch is now available for pre-order in yellow gold, pink gold or platinum with diamonds in an unparalleled fusion of luxury and technology Today, the design and branding pioneers at Brikk announce the launch of their Lux Watch product line. Their new collection includes 30 luxury models of the upcoming Apple Watch, which will afford unmatched …

LG Watch Urbane LTE Smartwatch Unveiled Make Calls, Send Messages and Get Push-to-Talk Capability All Without a Smartphone In another example of its wireless expertise, LG Electronics (LG) will be unveiling the world’s first LTE-enabled smartwatch to Mobile World Congress (MWC) next week in Barcelona, Spain. The LG Watch Urbane LTE, a next-generation wearable watch, …

BitFenix AEGIS PC Case Launched AEGIS features a beautiful rounded shield-inspired front with the same ICON logo display featured on Pandora, and a sporty fresh design all around. It comes in black, white and 3 vibrant colors (red, blue, yellow) and supports an impressive amount of fans and radiators: up to 8 120mm fans or …

WD My Cloud EX2100 and EX4100 Network Attached Storage Solutions Introduced Designed for Creative Professionals, Prosumers and Small Businesses, the Four New My Cloud NAS Solutions Round Out a Full Portfolio of Powerful NAS Products Built With the My Cloud OS and WD Red Drives WD®, a Western Digital (NASDAQ: WDC) company and a world leader …

Fractal Design Venturi Series Fans Launched The Venturi Series of fans delivers high quality design and construction bringing forth a leading performance fan series with built-in rubber vibration dampening corners coupled with top quality electronics and materials. Venturi fans are ideal for high pressure or high airflow usage scenarios featuring detailed engineered elements that contribute …

The Strix brand, ASUS’ new performance-to-premium gaming brand, was launched in May of 2014. Modeled around the mythological Roman owl. In it’s line up is the Strix Claw (a 5000 DPI optical mouse), the Strix DSP (7.1 ch. USB headset), the Strix glide control/speed mouse pads, and the Strix Tactic Pro gaming mechanical keyboard. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the Strix Tactic Pro keyboard to see if meets expectations and lives up to the ASUS name.

Mini PC’s are a crucial part for a media center PC and even small compact gaming PC’s. With the Raijintek Metis Classic computer case, system builders can now build even smaller and more compact media center or gaming PC’s. This lightweight aluminum case supports mini-ITX motherboards and even a full size ATX power supply. The Metis comes in a variety of colors to choose from. These colors include red, black, silver, blue, green and gold. Benchmark Reviews has been given this gold sample for this review. With the right hardware components, the Metis can be turned into the perfect computer for the living room and even a high-performance gaming machine in a small form factor.